Steppenwolf was about to withdraw his consciousness from the Mother Box.
But at that moment—the Mother Box actually sent a message to his mind!
"Huh?"
Steppenwolf was stunned for a moment.
He subconsciously began to receive and interpret the message.
A few seconds later—
His crimson eyes suddenly snapped open!
First came a flash of intense shock and disbelief.
But immediately after, that daze was completely replaced by an unprecedented ecstasy and madness as if a volcano had erupted within him!
"Ha... Ha ha...!"
Steppenwolf looked up and laughed wildly, startling the surrounding demons, who cowered in terror!
He never expected it!
He had stumbled upon an unimaginable fortune!
The message from the Mother Box... It was the location of the ultimate power dreamt of by all of Apokolips—
The Anti-Life Equation!
Following the information displayed by the Mother Box...
This was the ultimate power sufficient to enslave all free will in the universe!
Astonishingly...
It was hidden on this tiny, primitive planet—Earth!
He understood now!
Steppenwolf had truly found it!
The final answer that Darkseid had searched for through countless epochs and worlds, always in vain—
He had really found it!
"Ha... Hahahaha!"
Steppenwolf's laughter grew more and more crazed!
Return to Apokolips?
No!
This wasn't just about going back to Apokolips!
This credit—discovering the Anti-Life Equation—was an achievement so great it would wash away all his past disgrace!
It would be enough to let him stand by Darkseid's side once again!
Enough to elevate his position above everyone else on Apokolips!
With that in mind, Steppenwolf took a deep breath and reconnected his consciousness with the Mother Box on the altar.
This time, he wasn't after the Mother Box's power.
Instead, he used its limitless communication ability to send a message across infinite distance to Apokolips.
His target was not Darkseid—for, in his sinful state, he knew he was unworthy to speak directly to the lord.
Instead, he contacted DeSaad, Darkseid's chief advisor and torturer of Apokolips.
After a while—
A flash of light appeared before Steppenwolf.
A virtual image, composed of countless red and black data streams, slowly condensed before him.
It was a hideous presence draped in a beautiful yet eerie purple robe.
His face, like dried orange peel, was etched with eternal cruelty and a mocking sneer.
It was DeSaad.
"Steppenwolf."
DeSaad's voice was sharp and harsh, like claws scraping glass, sending chills down one's spine.
"Banished loser. You still dare contact me?"
His snake-like, clouded eyes scanned Steppenwolf from head to toe, undisguised contempt and mockery in them.
"What's the matter? Want to weep about your tragic experience on that primitive world?"
Despite DeSaad's biting ridicule, Steppenwolf didn't show any anger.
His crimson eyes burned with confidence and excitement.
"DeSaad... I've made a great discovery!"
"Oh? You found something?"
DeSaad raised an eyebrow, his sarcasm deepening.
"What did you find?"
Steppenwolf ignored his mockery.
He asked in a low voice, "What if... I said, I could return to Apokolips?"
DeSaad's smile was cold and arrogant:
"That depends on how valuable your discovery is.
If it's insignificant, you'll only be utterly erased by our lord.
But if... your discovery is truly valuable—then I, DeSaad, will personally plead with the great Lord Darkseid.
I'll let you, the loser, regain the right to set foot in the holy land of Apokolips!"
Having received DeSaad's promise, Steppenwolf no longer hesitated.
He took a deep breath, and with a tone full of sacredness and fanaticism, uttered the name that obsessed all of Apokolips:
"Mother Box... tell him...
The Anti-Life Equation...
is right on Earth!"
As the words fell, every trace of expression on DeSaad's face froze!
His eyes snapped open like a venomous snake's, shock and disbelief filling them!
After a few seconds, his face, twisted with excessive shock, slowly shifted into an even uglier, yet wildly joyous grin!
"Ha... Ha!
Good! Good! Wonderful!"
DeSaad's body shook with excitement!
"Steppenwolf! Well done!"
He stared into Steppenwolf's eyes, his earlier contempt and mockery gone, replaced with unprecedented fanaticism and solemnity.
"Listen, Steppenwolf! Right now! Immediately! At all costs!
Gather the remaining two Mother Boxes! Complete the unification!
Open the permanent Boom Tube to Earth!
At that time, the great Lord Darkseid will come in person!
This credit, this extraordinary achievement of finding the Anti-Life Equation for the lord, is enough to bring you back to Apokolips! You can have anything you desire!"
"Yes!"
Steppenwolf dropped to one knee, responding with utmost respect!
With uncontrollable ecstasy, DeSaad's virtual image slowly faded away.
The cave was silent once more.
Steppenwolf slowly stood up.
His crimson eyes burned with the flames of ambition and desire!
He lifted his head, his gaze piercing through the endless rocks, ice, and snow, staring fervently at the deep sea.
His next target: Atlantis.
…
Over the sea, the wind was gentle, the sun beautiful, and the blue waves vast and boundless.
A massive aircraft carrier, like a steel beast, cruised smoothly across the blue ocean, patrolling its domain.
On the deck, dozens of fighter jets were neatly lined up like raptors.
The howling sea wind whipped through the towering superstructure, roaring.
On this floating city—a pinnacle of human industry and military might—the command room was filled with a relaxed atmosphere.
A few officers in charge of flight monitoring chatted over coffee.
"Hey! Jack, I heard you're on leave next week? Where to?"
"Where else? Back to Hawaii—my wife and kids barely recognize me."
"Haha, take it easy, don't blow half your year's pay on Waikiki Beach."
They had sailed this route many times.
This wasn't a sensitive military area or a pirate hotspot.
For these men, long used to stormy seas and hidden threats, such routine cruises were as relaxing as paid holidays.
Yet, at this very moment—
Beep—
A sharp, urgent siren suddenly shattered the command room's lazy mood!
A young soldier in charge of radar monitoring, whose face had been relaxed, instantly froze!
He dropped his coffee cup, staring at the radar screen before him!
Right above the aircraft carrier formation, in an originally empty sector of sky,
a strange, constantly flashing light appeared out of nowhere!
"Report! Report! Unidentified object detected at about 10,000 meters directly overhead!"
"Speed... zero! It's just hovering there!"
The young soldier's voice was full of shock and confusion!
He quickly pushed the joystick forward, trying to get the satellite to take optical images!
"Zero speed?"
"My God! What is that?"
Everyone in the command room felt as if they were facing a mortal enemy!
As soon as the alarm sounded, a middle-aged man strode out of a private office—
the captain of the aircraft carrier William.
"What's going on?" he asked in a low voice.
"Reporting, Captain! Unidentified object hovering overhead detected on radar, right in front of us!"
The captain did not panic. He quickly walked over to the console and calmly ordered,
"Magnify the image! Put it on the main screen!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Soon, through satellite and shipboard optical systems,
the dual-captured, enlarged image was projected clearly onto the command room's giant display.
As the blurry point of light gradually came into focus—
the entire room fell silent as death.
Everyone who saw the image looked as if struck by lightning, faces filled with unprecedented terror and disbelief!
"My... God..."
One officer rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
On the giant screen, floating in the blue sky, what was the so-called "object"?
Clearly, it was two figures, floating in the sky at an altitude of 10,000 meters—
a man and a woman.
The man's expression was indifferent, as if strolling in his backyard.
The woman wore red and blue battle armor with an exotic style, unmatched beauty, and heroic bearing.
They simply floated quietly in the air, ignoring gravity and the laws of physics!
And Captain William could clearly see the man's face.
His pupils shrank sharply!
A complicated mix of awe and fear surged in his heart!
This face... he would never mistake it!
In the files issued by the highest authorities, that man's name was Lucci Odinson...
But among the top military officials, there was only one title—Unknown God!
The one who single-handedly destroyed an alien fleet and saved the entire Earth!
Why was he here now?
…
Thousands of meters above, the wind howled.
Lucci, of course, could see the toy-like aircraft carrier below the sea.
But he didn't care. It was just an aircraft carrier—no different from an ant in his eyes.
He turned to Diana and asked lightly,
"Is Atlantis really right beneath this sea?"
Diana hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, it's here."
She pointed to the blue sea below, which looked no different from any other place.
"According to our Amazonian ancient records, Atlantis lies right beneath this region.
But to avoid conflict with humans and to protect the Mother Box, the entire city chose to sink to a depth of 10,000 meters beneath the sea."
"How... do we get down there?"
Lucci nodded indifferently.
"Easy. I'll just freeze the seawater.
Then won't we have a direct passageway to the seabed?"
"Eh?"
Diana was stunned, her beautiful blue eyes wide as she stared at Lucci, as if he were a madman.
"You... you're joking, right?
This is the ocean! How could you freeze it?"
But Lucci just smiled calmly.
He reached out his right hand, and with a thought, activated his understanding of the Frost Law through the Casket of Ancient Winters!
Buzz—
Fierce cold instantly converged in his palm!
A cloud of icy energy glowed dark blue, swirling and condensing like a small nebula in his hand!
The moment this power appeared—
The temperature around them plummeted!
Countless ice crystals appeared in the air, swirling around the two of them!
At the level of the law, this absolute cold seemed to freeze space itself!
Diana felt the terrifying power that could freeze everything, her face paling instantly!
In the face of this chill, her very soul trembled!
There was no more doubt—this man could really do anything he said!
"Wait! Hold on!"
She quickly stopped him.
"Prince Lucci! We... we're here to find the Mother Box! Not to destroy Atlantis, right?
Do you really want to do this? What if they get hurt..."
Lucci glanced at her and said lightly,
"Don't worry, I'm very careful.
I'll only freeze the seawater. The Atlantis at the seabed won't be harmed."
Diana wanted to say more—but suddenly, the sea below surged violently!
In the next moment, the blue seawater parted to both sides as if by a giant invisible hand!
A massive, rotating whirlpool passageway appeared above the sea!
Then, several figures slowly emerged from the swirling channel.
At the front was a woman with long, flaming red hair like seaweed, clad in tight armor of dark green scales and holding a trident shining aqua blue.
Her face was beautiful, but her expression was frosty.
She was Queen Mera of Atlantis.
Behind her were several Atlantis guards with sharp blades.
Mera looked up and saw Diana and Lucci floating in the air, frowning slightly.
Lucci didn't know her, but Diana did.
"Diana of Themyscira?
What are you doing in the seas of Atlantis with this person?"
Her voice was cold and full of wariness.
But before Diana could explain, Lucci had already gotten to the point and declared his purpose.
"I'm here to take the Mother Box."
As soon as those words fell, the scene fell silent.
Diana felt dizzy and couldn't help but press her forehead in pain.
"I told you... Prince Lucci..." she whispered almost pleadingly,
"Can't you be a little more subtle?"
Lucci glanced at her and asked calmly,
"Our goal is the Mother Box!
If I acted subtle, would they hand it over willingly?"
Diana thought for a bit, then honestly shook her head.
"No."
Lucci replied mildly,
"Then that's fine!
If the result is the same, what's the difference whether it's subtle or not?"
Diana opened her mouth but was left speechless.
What Lucci said... seemed to make perfect sense.